Makoto Saito

Makoto Saito (27 October 1858-26 February 1936) was Prime Minister of Japan from 26 May 1932 to 8 July 1934, succeeding Korekiyo Takahashi and preceding Keisuke Okada. He was assassinated on 26 February 1936 in the February 26 Incident by the fascist Kodoha faction of politics.

Biography
Makoto Saito was born on 27 October 1858 in the Misuzawa Domain of Mutsu Province, Japan (now in Iwate Prefecture). In 1879, he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Navy Academy, and from 1884 to 1888 he served as a military attache to the United States. During the First Sino-Japanese War, Saito commanded two cruisers, and in 1900 he was promoted to Rear Admiral. He served as Minister of the Navy from 1906 to 1914, succeeding Gonnohyoe Yamamoto and preceding Rokuro Yashiro. From 1919 to 1927 and 1929 to 1931 he also served as Governor-General of Japanese Korea as Korean nationalism became a serious threat to the Empire of Japan, and on 26 May 1932 he was chosen by Prince Kinmochi Saionji as the new Prime Minister to counteract the Imperial Japanese Army's heavy influence on politics after the assassination of Korekiyo Takahashi. During his tenure, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations and recognized the independence of their puppet state of Manchukuo in northeastern China, with War Minister Sadao Araki holding much influence over military decisions. In 1934, Saito and his government were forced to reign after a bribery scandal. Saito was killed in his home in Tokyo in the February 26 Incident of 1936 by the radical Kodoha two years later, with the Kodoha seeking to get rid of all anti-militarist politicians.